Abstract

Plasmodium vivax malaria, which is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes, is one of the most important parasitic diseases in Turkey. The major protein on the surface of asexual erythrocytic stage merozoites of P. vivax (Pv) is 200 kD and called major merozoite surface protein-1 (PvMSP1). Polyclonal antibodies against the 19-kD C-terminal fragment of PvMSP1 (PvMSP1(19)) are protective in monkey models of P. vivax and associated with protection in field studies. In this research, monoclonal antibodies were produced against PvMSP1(19). A total of 214 IgG(1) antibody-releasing hybridomas were obtained and three monoclonal antibodies were produced (PvMSP1(19).1, PvMSP1(19).2, and PvMSP1(19).3) and selected for further study. They have now been purified from ascitic fluid on a Staphylococcus protein A affinity column.These are the first monoclonal antibodies produced against P. vivax in Turkey and the first monoclonal antibodies produced against this recombinant PvMSP1(19) in the world. The monoclonal antibodies will be used to study the epidemiology of P. vivax in patients with malaria in Turkey, and to develop better strategies for early diagnosis and treatment of the disease in our population.